---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 1801"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "1801"
heading: "Video voyeurism"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/1801"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 88 — Privacy"
---

# §1801. Video voyeurism

- (a) [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1), in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), has the intent to capture an image of a private area of an individual without their consent, and knowingly does so under circumstances in which the individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
- (b) In this section—
  - (1) the term “capture”, with respect to an image, means to videotape, photograph, film, record by any means, or broadcast;
  - (2) the term “broadcast” means to electronically transmit a visual image with the intent that it be viewed by a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) or [persons](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5);
  - (3) the term “a private area of the individual” means the naked or undergarment clad genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast of that individual;
  - (4) the term “female breast” means any portion of the female breast below the top of the areola; and
  - (5) the term “under circumstances in which that individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy” means—
    - (A) circumstances in which a reasonable [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) would believe that he or she could disrobe in privacy, without being concerned that an image of a private area of the individual was being captured; or
    - (B) circumstances in which a reasonable [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) would believe that a private area of the individual would not be visible to the public, regardless of whether that [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) is in a public or private place.
- (c) This section does not prohibit any lawful law enforcement, correctional, or intelligence activity.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 108–495, § 2(a), Dec. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 3999.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Short Title of 2004 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–495, § 1, Dec. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 3999, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Video Voyeurism Prevention Act of 2004’.”